Seal Import Ban Passes EU Committee

Good.

But the bill still needs the the approval of the entire EU assembly and EU governments in order to become law.

It will be tough.

Nordic EU countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland have opposed such a ban, and EU legal experts say it could violate world trade rules.

Canada and Greenland have warned the EU that they could challenge such a ban before the World Trade Organization.

Canada and Greenland Defend Seal Hunting

Oh, yeah, I forgot about Greenland. They are testifying with Canada against an EU ban on seal products. Both claim that a ban would be devastating.

They spoke before a hearing on the proposed ban.

Greenland Fisheries Minister Finn Karlsen, dressed in a traditional white Inuit sealskin jacket, insisted such a ban would “have severe and negative consequence for hunters and their families.”

“Our culture and our economy are at stake and it’s something I cannot accept,” he told lawmakers.

Canadian fisheries ministry representative Garry Stenson said the hunt “is humane, well regulated and sustainable” and that new rules for the hunt were under review to strengthen inspections, monitoring and enforcement of animal welfare rules.

Canada has said a ban could violate trade rules and it threatened action if a ban was introduced. It said a ban would decimate isolated east coast communities that are heavily dependent on the annual hunt.

The article does say that the Inuit communities would have special exemptions.

I'm not sure it will pass though. This proposal would require all 27 EU nations to approve it.